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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

M 

DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 120. 



Contribution from tiie Bureau of Plant Industry 

(New and Rare Seed Distribution), 

VVM. A. TAYLOR, Chief. 



SOY BEAN. 

Object of the distridution. — The (listril)ulion of new aiifl rare seeds has for 
its object the disseniination of new and rare crops, improved strains of staple 
crops, and high-grade seed of crops new to sections where the data of tlie De- 
partment indicate such crops to be of considerable promise. Each package 
contains a snthcient quantity for a preliminary trial, and where it is at all 
practicable the recipient is urged to use tlie seed for the production of stocks 
for future plantings. It is believed that if this practice is followed consistently, 
it will result in a material improvement in the crops of the country. Please 
make, a full report on the inclosed blank regarding the results you obtain with 
the seed. 

DESCRIPTION. 

The soy bean {Soja max)^ called also soja bean, Manchurian bean, 
and stock pea (eastern North Carolina), is an erect, rather hairy, 
leguminous plant, resembling somewhat in its early growth the 
ordinary field or navy bean. It is a native of southeastern Asia and 
is grown extensively in China and Japan, being used for human 
food, for forage, and as a green manure. The soy bean is a valuable 
crop in various ways and has many points of superiority over the 
cowpea. The high jdeld of seed, the nutritious forage, the ease of 
growing and harvesting, and the freedom from insect enemies and 
plant diseases should encourage the planting of this crop. One of 
its most common uses is for hay, which is comparable to alfalfa and 
red clover in feeding value. The yield of hay is about equal to that 
of the cowpea, or about 2 tons to the acre. As a pasture plant the 
soy bean may be utilized to advantage for all kinds of stock, but 
it is especially valuable for hogs, supplementing the corn ration. It 
is also valuable as a soiling crop, yielding from 5 to 10 tons of green 
forage to the acre. Good results have been obtained Avhere soy 
beans and corn are mixed as ensilaga. The soy bean can be used to 
advantage for green mamire, greatl}' increasing the supply of humus 
and nitrogen of the soil. For a greater variety and larger yield of 
forage it may be satisfactorily grown in combination wdth other 
crops, such as cowpeas, sorghum, corn, and Sudan grass. The use 
of the seed or meal as a substitute for cottonseed or oil meal in the 
feeding ration has given excellent residts. Thus far, soy beans have 
been a profitable crop to grow for seed. Under ordinary conditions 
the best yarieties yield from 20 to 30 bushels to the acre. As a 
human food the soy bean may be used as a green vegetable (when 
the seed is about full grown), while the dried beans may be roasted 

18G941°— 20 



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2 Department Cireular 120, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

as a substitute for coffee, in soups, or baked, and as flour or meal, 

the same as corn meal. In addition to their fora^iie and food value, 

soy beivns contain a valuable vefretable oil utilized in many trades. 

The cake remainin<r after the oil is expressed is a valuable feed for 

all kinils of live stock. 

ADAPTATION. 

The soy bean has a wide adaptation as regards soil and climatic 

conditions. In <ji;eneral, the northern limit of its adaptation in the 

United States may be said to be that of corn, and the southern limit 

cotton. The soil requirements are quite similar to those of corn, 

Kal)bits are exceedint^ly fond of the youn<; plants and sometimes 

cause serious injury where the plat is sihall, especial!}' in the 

semiarid regions. 

INOCULATION. 

Soy beans, like other legumes, Avhen well inoculated add much 
nitrogen to the soil. Natural inoculation occurs quite generally 
throughout the South. In isolated localities where this crop has not 
been previously grown, some difliculty from lack of inoculation may 
be expected. Northward and westward greater difficulty in, this re- 
gard is experienced. The inoculation of a new field may be. secured 
by mixing 1 gallon of soil from an old soy-bean field with a bushel 
of seed, or with pure culture, which may be obtained from the United 
States Department of Agriculture free of charge. 

CULTURE. 

The land should be thoroughly pre})are(l before seeding. If the soil 
is loAv in fertility, phosphoric acid and potash should be applied to 
obtain the best results. Soy beans may be sown at any time after 
danger of severe frosts is over, ranging from early spring until mid- 
sunnner. The general practice for seed production is j^lanting in 
rows, 30 to 48 inches apart. For hay, soiling, or green manure, a 
drilled or broadcasted crop furnishes a finer quality of forage. In 
rows, from 20 to 80 pounds of seed to the acre are found satisfactory, 
and if broadcast or drilled, 60 to 90 pounds. The ordinary grain drill 
may be used in planting by covering the feed cups not in use, thus 
spacing the rows as desired. The cotton planter or corn planter may 
also be used. For small areas the ordinary garden drill does well. 
The planting should be shallow, not exceeding 2 inches in depth. As 
soon as the seedling plants a-ppear above the ground cultivation 
should begin. Soy beans should receive at least three cultivations. 

HARVESTING. 

The time of harvesting depends on the use to be made of the crop. 
Soy beans are best fitted for hay when the pods are well formed. 
When grown for grain alone, the cutting" may be delayed in the case 
of most varieties until all of the leaves bavei'allen. The early varie- 
ties can best be harvested with a moAviji<jj lyaijiiaie or bean harvester. 

i mvi^lONOFDOCUMWfJ 



' S 1 U S ^ Soy Bean. 3 

The later and taller growing varieties can be harvested satisfactorily 
with a self-rake reaper, a mowing machine, or a self-binder, the last 
being the best for rather tall varieties. Special machines are now on 
the market for harvesting the seed from the standing vines. 

THRASHING. 

Soy beans may be thrashed with an ordinary grain separator if run 
at moderate speed and by removing some of the concaves. Special 
bean and pea separators are now on the market and do very satis- 
factory work. AV^ith small areas, soy beans may be cut or pulled, tied 
in bundles, and flailed out when thoroughly dry. 

STORING. 

After thrashing, the beans should be spread out and not massed in 
quantities. Soy beans will heat easily if not thoroughly dry, and 
their ability to germinate will be ruined. 

VARIETIES. 

At. the present time about 15 varieties of soy beans are handled 
commercially by seedsmen. More than 500 distinct varieties are 
known and have been grown by the Department of Agriculture on its 
testing grounds. Several of these have proved very promising in 
diiferent sections of the country and are now on the market. Varie- 
ties are largely distinguished by the color and size of seed, though 
they diifer in maturity, habit of growth, etc. Following are notes on 
the more important varieties. 

Manmioth (seeds straw yellow). — This is the standard commercial 
late variety, more extensively grown at the present time than any 
other. The Mammoth yields well and is satisfactory for both grain 
and forage. It can not be expected to mature north of Tennessee and 
Virginia. 

Haberlandt (seeds straw yellow). — This variety matures in about 
120 days. The Haberlandt is most satisfactory for grain production, 
but it is not especially desirable for hay. It is strongly recommended 
where an earlier variety than the Mammoth is desired. 

Mancliu (seeds straw yellow). — ^This variety was obtained from 
northern Manchuria and matures in about 110 days. The Manchu 
makes an excellent production of both forage and seed, excelling any 
of the early varieties noAv on the market. It is especially adapted to 
the Northern States. 

Tokio (seeds olive yellow). — This variety is about a week earlier 
than the Mammoth. The Tokio gives rather too stocky a growth 
for desirable forage, but is most satisfactory for grain protluction. 
Most excellent yields of grain have been obtained under ordinary 
conditions in North Carolina and Tennessee. 

Virginia (seeds brown). — A tall, slender variety, vining at the ter- 
minal, and maturing in about 125 days. The Virginia on account of 
its abundant growth and heavy yield of seed ma'^es a most excellent 
forage variety. It is also recommended for hay and silage mixtures. 




4 Dcparlrncnl (liiciilar 120, U. S. Depl. of 

000 930 740" 

Jii(o,i'i (seeds brown). — A very late, coarse, bushy variely. ^irowin^ 
from 4 to (') feet lii<2;h. It makes a very abundant growth and gives 
a fair yiehl of seed. As the Biloxi reijuires a very long season for 
maturity, it is only adapted to the southern part of the (iulf States 
for seed. It is valuable for the rice lands as a green manure and is 
also suitable for hay and silage. 

liuvehct (seeds brown). ^This variety re(|uires a rather long sea- 
son, maturing about 10 days later than the IManimoth. The Barchet 
makes an excellent growth and is to be recommended for hay and 
green manure in the Gulf States. 

^ViJson (seeds black). — An erect, slender variet;>% maturing in 
about 120 days. The AVilson is considered o,ne of the best hay varie- 
ties, making an excellent production of both forage and seed. 

Fel'ing (seeds black). — This variety has small flat seeds and ma- 
tures about the same as Haberlandt. The Peking not only gives a 
good yield of grain, but is one of the most desirable for forage. 

Black Eyehroio (seeda black and yellow). — This variety was ob- 
tained from northern Manchuria and matures about the sartie as 
Manchu. The Black Eyebrow is very satisfactory for both hay and 
seed production. It is to be recommended as a grain variety for the 
Northern States. 

lldhto (seeds olive j'ellow). — A large, erect, bushy va"riety% pro- 
ducing a large amount of seed and forage. The seed, when three- 
fourths to full grown, makes an excellent green vegetable, similar to 
the Lima bean. 

/i'rt.sv/ Cook (seeds straw j^ellow). — This variety is a strong, vigor- 
ous, bushy sort, maturing in about 130 days. It is very prolific, 
producing also an abundance of forage. The mature beans are of 
excellent quality, have a good flavor, and are easily cooked soft. The 
beans can be used as a green vegetable, but their ug3 is recommended 
as a dried bean on account of the ease of cooking. 

Laredo (seeds black). — A variety maturing about the same time 
as the Mannnotli YelloAv. It makes an abundance of fine forage 
and is a good yielder of seed. The Laredo is highly resistant to wilt 
and nematodes and is especially adapted to lands where these 
troubles are prevalent. 

Manddvln (seeds straw yellow). — An early-maturing variety ob- 
tainied from Manchuria and found especially valuable as a grain 
producer for northern conditions. It will mature farther north than 
any variety now on the market. 

PUBLICATIONS. 

Farnnys' Bulletins 973 ("The Soy Bean: Its Culture and Uses") 
and 8SG ("Harvesting Soy-Bean Seed"), giving more comi)lete 
information concerning this crop, are available for free distribution 
on api)licatiQn to the Secretary of Agriculture, ^^^^shiugtou, I). C. 

Junk 8,1020. 

WAS4ii\(iT().N : (;uvi::!N.Mr.xT ritiMi.Nu OFKici: : 1920 



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